DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: James Harden #13 and Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets celebrate during a timeout against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: James Harden #13 and Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets celebrate during a timeout against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by

Houston Rockets guards James Harden (13) and Chris Paul (3) celebrate after one of Harden's three-pointers during the second half of an NBA game at Toyota Center, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won 130-123. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Rockets guards James Harden (13) and Chris Paul (3) celebrate after one of Harden's three-pointers during the second half of an NBA game at Toyota Center, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won

SAN ANTONIO,TX - APRIL 1 : LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs stops Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center on April 1 , 2018 in San Antonio, Texas.

SAN ANTONIO,TX - APRIL 1 : LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs stops Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center on April 1 , 2018 in San Antonio, Texas.

Photo: Ronald Cortes, Getty Images

Image 4 of 7

Rockets guard James Harden, left, gets by Pelicans guard DeAndre Liggins for a layup. Harden had a game-high 27 points on 11-for-24 shooting.

Rockets guard James Harden, left, gets by Pelicans guard DeAndre Liggins for a layup. Harden had a game-high 27 points on 11-for-24 shooting.

Photo: Yi-Chin Lee

Image 5 of 7

Image 6 of 7

The Rockets' Gerald Green, left, drives on Timberwolves guard Jamal Crawford in the third quarter of the win Sunday in Minneapolis. Green scored 12 points in nearly 15 minutes off the bench before he was ejected. less

The Rockets' Gerald Green, left, drives on Timberwolves guard Jamal Crawford in the third quarter of the win Sunday in Minneapolis. Green scored 12 points in nearly 15 minutes off the bench before he was ... more

Photo: Andy Clayton-King, FRE

Image 7 of 7

A look at the Rockets' potential first-round opponents

1 / 7

Back to Gallery

Finally, some clarity. And it only took 80 and in some cases 81 games, to get it.

With the Nuggets and Thunder getting comeback wins on Monday, the Rockets can finally narrow the list of potential first-round opponents to three teams, assuming the Thunder take care of their home game on Wednesday against the Grizzlies.

After the Timberwolves and Nuggets finish their play-in game on Wednesday and the Pelicans and Spurs are through with their regular-season finale against one another, the Rockets will know whether they open the post-season at Toyota Center against the Spurs, Pelicans or Timberwolves.

The Nuggets can earn the remaining undetermined playoff spot with a win in Minneapolis, but since they hold tie-breakers, they cannot finish eighth.

The first part is clear.

Now Playing:

Hornets owner Michael Jordan has turned to a fellow former North Carolina Tar Heel with a strong NBA track record to help turn around his struggling franchise.

Media: Brandpoint

If the Pelicans lose to the Spurs on Wednesday, they are eighth and face the top-seeded Rockets.

If the Pelicans win, the Rockets would face the Spurs if Denver wins on Wednesday and the Rockets would open against Timberwolves if Minnesota wins, again assuming a Thunder win against Memphis in Oklahoma City.

Everything gets a bit more complicated for many of the Western Conference playoff teams if the Jazz lose their remaining games, a possibility with games left against the Warriors and Trail Blazers.

That would drop the Jazz into a three-way tie with the loser of the game between the Pelicans and Spurs and the winner of the game between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.

For the Rockets, however, even that is fairly clear-cut. In the potential three-way ties, the Rockets would play the loser of Wednesday’s game between the Spurs and Pelicans.

There is, however, that one potential game to chance all of that. The Thunder game at home against the woeful Grizzlies would seem to be a tap-in. But if the Thunder loses that game, things can chance in many ways.

For now, however, if the Rockets are so inclined, they can cast a glance past the Lakers and Kings, to start looking at the Pelicans, Spurs and Timberwolves. They swept their four games against the Wolves, went 3-1 against the Spurs and Pelicans. They would likely prefer a meeting with the team they swept, but regardless, will be happy to finally know who will be coming to town this weekend.